The 2026 NAACP Image Awards are led by Ryan Coogler’s Sinners with a commanding 18 nominations , more than double its nearest competitor, Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest , which earned 9 . In television, Bel‑Air tops the field with 7 nominations , followed by Abbott Elementary , Reasonable Doubt , and Ruth & Boaz , each with 6 . Among individual contenders, Teyana Taylor and Kendrick Lamar lead with six nominations each , while the marquee Entertainer of the Year category features Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan, and Teyana Taylor. This year’s theme — “We See You” — highlights and celebrates Black creativity across film, television, music, and literature. KEY NOMINEES Outstanding Motion Picture Sinners — 18 nominations total Highest 2 Lowest — 9 nominations Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Michael B. Jordan — Sinners Denzel Washington — Highest 2 Lowest Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Jayme Lawson — Sinners Wunmi Mosaku — ...